{"id":27156,"date":"2022-04-25T15:02:09","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T15:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/?p=27156"},"modified":"2023-04-27T13:55:58","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T13:55:58","slug":"cybersecurity-risks-for-remote-teams-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/cybersecurity-risks-for-remote-teams-and-how-to-avoid-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Cybersecurity Risks for Remote Teams and How to Avoid Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations asked their employees to work remotely as a temporary measure. It\u2019s been two years since, but the trends for remote work continue to rise. <\/span>According to an IWG study<\/span><\/a>, more than 75% of people globally work remotely at least once a week. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no denying that working from home comes with several benefits\u2013eliminating commute, a better work-life balance, and reducing office space costs. Still, it also makes organizations more vulnerable to <\/span>cybersecurity risks<\/b>. Studies show that about <\/span>43% of remote employees<\/span><\/a> make mistakes resulting in cybersecurity consequences to themselves or the company. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizations with a remote workforce must be more vigilant than ever and watch out for <\/span>cybercrimes like malware, ransomware, phishing,<\/span><\/a> and other <\/span>social engineering attacks<\/span><\/a> to protect their assets.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read this article to discover cybersecurity risks for remote teams and how to avoid them. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Do Cybersecurity Risks Come From?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, most companies have employees working from home or people for business. We can\u2019t dispute that monitoring their network for attacks will be daunting. To prevent the <\/span>cybersecurity risks of working from home<\/b>, it\u2019s vital to first understand where the threats are coming from. This allows you to strengthen the <\/span>cybersecurity for your remote workers<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are common attack vectors that hackers can compromise to execute their malicious activities.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use of Personal Devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Employees who work remotely don\u2019t bring home office technologies like desk phones and printers. For that reason, remote workers often resort to using a home router, personal mobile devices, and printers to perform their daily work activities. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with your device brings freedom, privacy, and flexibility, but often results in more <\/span>remote working cyber attacks. <\/b>Most people don\u2019t secure their devices, which isn\u2019t advisable, even if it\u2019s only for personal use. If a company\u2019s information is compromised, the damage can be devastating.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When using a personal device for work, ensure it\u2019s encrypted to protect sensitive data like business contacts and emails from hackers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-Secure Connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Employees working from home need a seamless network connection to perform their tasks diligently. This can tempt workers to connect to insecure public connections, posing significant risks to company information security. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statistics show that almost <\/span>half of U.S. workers trust public WiFi<\/span><\/a>. However, that\u2019s not the case as hackers often prey on users to steal confidential data like bank details and Personal Identifiable Information. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workers may update their devices but neglect their home router software. Devices that aren\u2019t updated will have security loopholes that hackers can compromise to gain access to company assets. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cloud Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Organizations with a remote workforce rely on cloud storage to manage their files, assets, and activities. This offers an added advantage by reducing the cost of implementing custom infrastructure to handle vital services.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, cloud computing<\/a> comes with its <\/span>cybersecurity remote working<\/b> risks. Firstly, clouds are usually out of your control, as their security is managed by a third party. Secondly, hacking a password to access cloud storage can be as easy as 1, 2, 3, especially if your employees don\u2019t practice good password hygiene.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bad Cybersecurity Habits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no denying that humans are the weakest link in cybersecurity. Bad security habits from remote workers can result in sensitive information exposed to malicious actors. These bad habits could include poor password hygiene, storing passwords in unsecured locations, password stuffing, clicking on malicious links, and using insecure internet connections.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Secure Your Remote Teams?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you understand the challenges of remote working<\/a><\/span> and attack vectors, you need to defend your IT structure. Implement robust security measures to ensure your remote teams know how to respond to cybersecurity risks. Below are some <\/span>cybersecurity remote working <\/b>security defense tips to ensure safety from cyberthreats. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Antivirus, VPN, and Internet Security Software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A common mistake of remote workers is using an unsecured network connection. The best way to mitigate this risk is to implement standard security tools to protect your devices from viruses and other malware infections. These should include firewalls, antivirus software, a VPN, and internet security software. A good security suite will offer security against the <\/span>risks of remote working<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Family Away From Work Devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your employee might be a technological expert that can manage security threats and keep safe online. However, they aren\u2019t the only variable in the equation. They have families, especially young children, that might gain access to their company computer. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, it\u2019s vital to develop a policy that reminds remote employees to keep the company\u2019s gadgets away from their family members. In addition, they should implement best security practices to keep their devices safe. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n